AGRITOURISM Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3392
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-08T14:01:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 3392: The AGRITOURISM Act
Purpose
The legislation aims to promote agritourism—tourism activities on farms and ranches—by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to create a dedicated position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support and expand these activities. It seeks to boost rural economies, preserve agricultural heritage, and integrate agritourism into USDA's broader programs.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The Act is titled the "Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces Act" or simply the "AGRITOURISM Act."
- Findings: Congress recognizes agritourism's benefits, including educational experiences (e.g., farm tours), outdoor recreation (e.g., hiking, fishing), entertainment (e.g., festivals, weddings), direct sales (e.g., farm stands, u-pick operations), accommodations (e.g., farm stays), and on-farm dining. It highlights how agritourism supports community finances, education, supplemental income for small farms, rural economic growth, heritage preservation, farm diversification, and keeping farms operational.
- Sense of Congress: USDA should comprehensively incorporate agritourism into its departmental strategies to maximize these benefits.
- Agritourism Advisor:
- A senior official in the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development will be designated as the Agritourism Advisor.
- Duties include promoting agritourism activities (e.g., education, recreation, events, sales, accommodations) in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and on lands under Indian Tribes' jurisdiction.
- Means of implementation: Coordinate within USDA, advise the Secretary, update programs with best practices, conduct outreach and partnerships for mentorship and technical assistance, facilitate interagency tools, improve farm business development programs (covering financial literacy, planning, marketing), build business networks, consolidate access to federal resources, and collaborate with other federal agencies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 by adding a new Section 237, which establishes the Agritourism Advisor role and its responsibilities.
- Makes technical adjustments, such as redesignating an existing section (on Food Access Liaison) from 225 to 224A to avoid numbering conflicts.
- Adds authority for the Secretary to carry out the new Advisor provisions in Section 296(b) of the same Act, ensuring the role fits within USDA's organizational structure.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: USDA will need to integrate agritourism into its rural development efforts, potentially requiring new coordination, outreach, and resource allocation. This could enhance interagency collaboration but may involve minor administrative costs for the Advisor position.
- Citizens: Rural communities, especially small family farms, could gain supplemental income, business support, and access to federal programs, fostering economic diversification and job creation. Visitors benefit from expanded educational and recreational opportunities.
- International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned; the focus is domestic rural development.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Farmers and Agritourism Businesses: Small and family-run operations in rural areas, including those offering tours, events, sales, and lodging, who will receive technical assistance, mentorship, and easier access to resources.
- Rural Communities: Benefit from economic growth, heritage preservation, and community events.
- Indian Tribes: Explicitly included for agritourism promotion on tribal lands.
- USDA and Federal Agencies: Must adapt programs, coordinate efforts, and provide consolidated support.
- States and Territories: Involved in statewide promotion and implementation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens USDA's rural development mandate without creating new funding or regulatory burdens; relies on existing departmental authorities. The inclusion of Indian Tribes aligns with federal-tribal relations under laws like the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it supports Congress's enumerated powers over agriculture and commerce, promoting interstate economic activity in a neutral, supportive manner.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from senators across parties) signals broad support for rural initiatives. It could influence future farm bills or rural policy by embedding agritourism as a priority, potentially aiding rural constituencies in politically diverse areas.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces Act — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (6 pages)